A N N UAL R E PORT 2022/2023
CONNECT. SU PPORT . GROW.
F OREW O RD
GREG LOWSON Chair of the Board for the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
I am delighted to introduce the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce annual report for a year that marks our 210-year history. In the face of another turbulent year in which businesses have encountered many difficult economic conditions- from the extortionately high energy bills firms faced to the thirty-year high inflation figures that we saw- I am proud that the Chamber has continued to provide invaluable support to firms across the city-region. Given the wider macroeconomic context, it is extremely positive to see the Chamber’s total income increase 6% on last year and generate an operating surplus of £277,000. Such impressive growth would not be possible without Team Chamber, who have remained committed to helping connect, support and grow local businesses regardless of the obstacles presented to them. As a not-forprofit organisation, this enables us to reinvest in the business to ensure that we continue to thrive whatever the economic climate. I would like to thank Deb Leary for her time as President. Deb’s tenure has been marked with some remarkable moments for the city-region, with the hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2022 being the highlight. At the start of her role Deb highlighted that global trade, innovation and collaboration would be the key pillars of her presidency and it has been fantastic to see how she has pushed these themes over the last two years. I am delighted to welcome Dr Nasir Awan as President of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce for the next two years. Nasir has a wealth of invaluable experience to draw upon, from his own business ventures to his appointment as a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands. Following on from Nasir, I am further delighted to welcome Mike Owens who will be commencing his term as Vice-President of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. As Managing Director of Schumacher Packaging Ltd I look forward to the impetus and vision that Mike will be sure to bring to the role. As I write this year’s foreword it has got me thinking about my involvement in the leadership of the Chamber for the best part of two decades and the huge strides forward that we, as
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an organisation, have taken over that period of time. This year has been notable for two big developments in the organisation; the physical office move from Chamber House to 54 Hagley Road and the digital transformation programme which has resulted in the fantastic new website that we now have online, which includes the brilliant and up to date new CRM system. Both developments have been critical to the progress of the Chamber and helping us towards our threeyear business plan and strategy. A particular aspect of the Chamber’s recent work has been the growth of the Future Faces division. I have been delighted to see the Birmingham Young Professional’s of the Year Award return. I have enjoyed working with the Future Faces representatives on the GBCC’s Shadow Board with representatives from the Future Faces committee joining the main GBCC board twice a year to present on key agenda items and bring a young professional perspective into the heart of GBCC strategic decision-making. None of this would be possible without our members, and I am deeply thankful for your continued support and engagement. Given the economic headwinds that we have faced and continue to face, it is more important than ever that the business community works together to overcome tough hurdles and seize upon future opportunities presented to our region.
G R EG L OW SON Chair of the Board of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
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F I N AN C I A L PERFORMANCE 2022/23 •
Total income for the year was £7.1 million, up 6% on the previous year, which generated an operating surplus of £277,000
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89% of our income is self-generated and 11% is from public funded activity
The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) is the legal entity which operates under the name of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. The Operating Surplus for 2022/23 was £277,000 compared to £475,000 for 2021/22. The pension fund movements in the Statement of Comprehensive Income in the year are £nil as the fund is in surplus and the actuarial change cannot be recognised. With a deferred tax charge of £63,000 this results in comprehensive income for the year of £214,000 (2022: £561,000). Total reserves therefore increase to £2,512,000 (2022: £2,298,000) and net current assets in the year are £2,402,000 (2022: £2,291,000). Total income for the year was £7,093,000 (2022: £6,666,000), up 6% from the previous year. Of particular note was the continuing increase in turnover on Export Documentation which increased by 22% from the previous year. Membership & patronage as well as other commercial services have remained steady over the last 12 months. The TUPE transfer in June 2022 of our Department for International Trade (now Department for Business & Trade) contract back to the government department, and the end of our three-year GBSLEP Growth Hub contract in September 2022 has led to a reduction of 50% in these public funded contracts since 2022. However this was replaced by additional contracts taken on by Innovate UK Edge where our income increased by 35%. The Chamber gave notice to its landlord in 2022 to leave Chamber House, our home for 60 years, in October 2023, and we will complete our office move to new premises this November. This has been achieved alongside upgrading IT infrastructure and a redesign of our website. Overall BCCI shows positive outcomes across all areas of activity. Directors were pleased to report a surplus in 2023, and we continue on a sound financial footing to focus on our offer for members and plans for membership growth.
CONNECT. 9,482 delegates attended 191 events Chamberlink magazine readership is c.24,000 and the Daily newsletter is c.13,000 1,021 respondents completed our Quarterly Business Report
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P RES I DEN T’S STAT EMENT PROF. DEBORAH LEARY OBE, D.UNIV, FRSA President of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
What an absolute honour the past two years have been and how quickly has that time gone. Whilst much ground has been covered, there is always so much more to do and I know that our new President, Dr Nasir Awan, will continue the crucial role of acting as the conduit between the membership and the Chamber. The only constant in this world is change, and what a double-sided coin that is! When I started my Presidency, we were focused on recovery from a global pandemic, trying to come to terms with the ongoing debate about home working, hybrid working, coupled with challenges from the fallout from Brexit. One would have thought that was enough. There was no thought of wars in the Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, or ongoing supply chain disruption and a cost-of-living crisis, coupled with more Prime Ministers and Chancellors than you can shake a stick at. However, what the past two years has demonstrated is the resilience of our region, our businesses, our universities and our people to continue to strive, to make a positive impact and ensure that as a region we move forward. I have met our members during the worst of times and the best of times and visited more hostelries, restaurants and award dinners than are good for me! I have visited member’s premises, opened new factories/office premises, shared in their successes and listened to their challenges. I’ve had the honour to chair roundtables with our members in meetings with Sir Keir Starmer, visits with members to No 11 to meet with the Chancellor and Patrons’ lunches with Andy Street. Events like this give a voice to our members at the highest level and ensure that government hears the challenges, the concerns, the successes of our business community. I have been so blessed to have been President at the time of the Commonwealth Games – the Games, a symbol if nothing else that despite all the challenges this city, this region faces, it can rise up and show the world just how fabulous we are, welcoming, sharing, inclusive, creative and innovative. The legacy of the Games will continue and from a Chamber perspective I know that it has positively impacted on how we are viewed globally. Over the past two years I have built relations and welcomed delegations from Germany, USA, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Serbia, Sri Lanka
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and Mexico to name but a few, all looking to establish long-term relationships with our members. In summary, I couldn’t be prouder to have been your President. It has been ultimately the greatest time of my career and I thank you all for having faith in me. Special thanks to Henrietta Brealey and all the fabulous the Chamber team, my fellow board members, Chamber Council and patrons for making the past two years so special. I hope I have done the role justice. I wish our new President all the very best for his term. You have all been #awesome #bostin #ace
PROFESSOR DEBORAH LEARY OBE, D.UNIV, FRSA President of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
SUPPORT. 24,464 trade documents issued by our International Hub 388 translations with a total of 279 languages translated from/into English 1,396 completed calls with members together with actual meetings with members made by Relationship Managers
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IN CO MI N G P RESIDENT ’ S S T ATEMEN T
DR NASIR AWAN MBE, DL Vice-President of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
As someone who is deeply involved in the fabric of this region, I am incredibly honoured to have been elected as the new President of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. I would like to personally thank Deb Leary for her energetic and inspiring leadership during her tenure as President, in which she has had to work through the emergence of our region out of the Global Pandemic, record high inflation and a cost-of-living crisis. I am in admiration of Deb’s strength of leadership in her role as President through this turbulent time. As Deb continues her role with the Chamber as a Board member, I look forward to continuously working closely with her to make Greater Birmingham the best place to do business. I am incredibly proud of everything that I have achieved during my business career, particularly at Awan Marketing where the level of success and achievement is testament to the hard work of everybody involved in the business and the support from the Chamber over our 3 decades as members. With my background being in the wholesale and international trading business, I believe that I can provide my own energy and perspective to the role of President. I will look to champion all businesses in the region, and with the synergy that I share with SME businesses and traders as well as many startups. I hope that I can provide a sense of energy in helping these firms achieve their goals and dreams. The theme for my tenure-ship will be international trade, in particular to support and encourage our regional business to explore and export to new markets. The international team at the Chamber already do a fantastic amount of work in helping our members to trade and strengthen their ties internationally, and I will look to continue to support them in this vital piece of work. I look forward to working with the Global Chamber of Commerce closely in their objective of providing that international gateway for firms wishing to develop bilateral trade opportunities. In the aftermath of leaving the European Union it is essential that we support SMEs who are looking to trade internationally, and a central tenant of my time as President will be to support SMEs in achieving this.
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I look forward to working in tandem with my Vice President Mike Owens, our fantastic CEO Henrietta Brealey, the Chamber team, my fellow board members, Chamber Council and patrons. I feel confident that I can continue to add value to the Chamber and serve our members as has been by the previous successful Presidents whose time and efforts I would like to acknowledge.
NASIR AWAN Vice-President of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
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P RES I DEN T’S MEDAL 2023 Charlie Blakemore is the recipient of the 2023 President’s Medal. Starting his career as a mechanical engineering apprentice, Charlie has gone on to hold several board positions in the land, maritime, and air sectors of the global defence and aerospace business BAE Systems. He joined Intercity in 2018 as group managing director where he works to streamline and enhance the delivery of innovation projects to both enterprise and SME customers, ensuring that first-class service is provided as efficiently as possible. Charlie is actively involved with the strategic decision making of business community in the city-region with his position on the Board of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. Amongst other achievements, Charlie managed non-league club Chasetown FC over an eight-year period to great levels of success and then went on to hold the position of director at the club. Prof. Deborah Leary OBE, President of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “It is with great pleasure I present my final President’s Award to Charlie Blakemore and Intercity. Charlie and the team at Intercity get what ‘good business’ is all about. Innovative, creative, inclusive, client and supplier and community focused, Charlie and Intercity as a whole are true champions of the city and this region. As regards Charlie, he’s simply a great business leader with an attitude that is focused on the art of the possible. The first time I met Charlie was the day I became President. Since then, I have had the pleasure of working alongside him on the Chamber Board. As my term ends, it is fitting that I now have the opportunity to present this award to a business leader and a company that I truly feel represents business excellence and whom has shared my journey from start to finish.”
L O N GSTA N DI N G MEMBER AW ARD REC I PI E NT S The Crowne Plaza Solihull hotel is set within picturesque grounds in the heart of Solihull town centre and is the perfect setting for business and leisure. The hotel offers 12 fully equipped meeting spaces for up to 200 guests and is a favoured venue for special events by the Solihull community. Guests can enjoy a great night’s rest in one of the 120 bedrooms, have a CROWNE PLAZA SOLIHULL
bite to eat in the Terrace Restaurant and outside terrace, offering lakeside views, or meet for drinks in the Terrace Bar and Lounge. In the Club Moativation leisure club, which also offers monthly memberships, you can enjoy a swim in the heated pool or a workout in the air-conditioned gym.
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Thomas Fattorini Ltd. was established in Skipton, North Yorkshire in 1827 as a retailer of fancy goods including jewellery, silverware, scientific instruments including barometers. Other branches were established in Leeds, Bolton and Harrogate. With the increasing demand for bespoke medals and awards throughout the 19th century, a factory was opened in The Jewellery Quarter, Hockley Street, Birmingham in 1919. THOMAS FATTORINI
Less than 10 years later in 1927 the company sought more space and was able to acquire the old jewellery factory of Adie & Lovekin in Regent Street. Thomas Fattorini Ltd. has been based in The Jewellery Quarter ever since and is well known for making and designing such trophies as the FA Cup, The Lonsdale Belt, the National TV Awards and a variety of Insignia and Honours for the Royal Household for a period of almost 50 years which lead to the Company receiving a Royal Warrant in 2008.
Launched in 1997, ART makes loans between £10,000 and £150,000 to businesses unable to obtain their full requirements from the Banks. ART provides an additional source of finance to businesses and social enterprises. It is a mutual society owned by its members and is non- profit distributing. It raises fund from personal and corporate social investors and borrows ART BUSINESS LOANS
funds to on lend, its main backer being Unity Trust Bank. It is accredited to provide Community Investment Tax Relief to its funders. It will lend alone or as part of a package and lends throughout the West Midlands Region and adjoining Counties. Full details of products and services, including case studies, can be found on the ART website: www.artbusinessloans.co.uk
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HENRIETTA BREALEY Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
2023 marks the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s 210th Anniversary. At 11am on Wednesday 21st July 1813 (precisely, they kept very good minutes in 1813) what was then known as the Chamber of Manufacturers and Commerce of Birmingham, was officially born. It’s a privilege to lead an organisation with such a strong heritage and exciting future. While we may be 210 years old, it has also been a year of plenty of new. 2023 has seen us relocate to our new HQ at 54 Hagley Road, launch the next phase of our digital transformation programme with a new website, the delivery of a brand repositioning programme that puts our members at the heart of showcasing the Chamber in a new light, launching a new set of Chamber values reflecting who we are as a team today – and much more besides. It has been a key year for us in implementation of our three-year business plan and strategy, all aimed at ensuring that the Chamber is in the best possible place to fulfil our mission for the next 210 years too. Thank you to my colleagues across the Chamber who consistently go above and beyond to support our members and each other while continually moving this much-loved institution forward. We have also been ensuring that our Governance is fit for the future. 2022/23 was the first year that we published an Environmental Social Governance statement within our financial accounts. We look forward to refining and developing our approach over the coming months. Earlier this year we received a Race Code Quality Mark. This Quality Mark is the culmination of a two year action plan reviewing and improving our approach to people, policies and governance. I’d like to thank Dr Karl George, head of governance at RSM, GBCC board member and author of the Race Code for his support and steer throughout in ensuring we meet the highest standards. We will also shortly be welcoming a new GBCC President. Deb Leary OBE, our outgoing President, is going to leave big shoes to fill. She is a force of nature, proving that business leaders can be both impressive, innovative and inspirational – and very down to earth (plus a whole lot of fun too). I am looking forward to continuing working with her on the GBCC board as immediate past-President.
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I have no doubt that our incoming President Nasir Awan MBE will take up the mantle with aplomb as we join him in his presidential focus on putting Birmingham on the map and creating connections that help businesses trade internationally.
HENRIETTA BREALEY Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
GROW: The GBCC’s social media following grew to over 109,000 across all channels. Visits to the GBCC’s website grew by 252% in 2022/23 The GBCC’s Growth Through People campaign which had 290 registered delegates. 84% of delegates reported learning something new at a Growth Through People event that they would look to apply in their own role/organisation.
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GREA T ER B I RMINGHAM CH AMB ERS O F COMMERCE’ S B OA R D O F DI RECTORS
GREG LOWSON
KATRINA COOKE
DR KARL GEORGE MBE
Chair - GBCC
Chief Commercial Officer GBCC
Director - RSM UK
MANDY HAQUE
RUTH PIPKIN
International Director GBCC
Managing Director - Rewired PR
PROF DEBORAH LEARY OBE
HENRIETTA BREALEY
DR NASIR AWAN MBE DL
Chief Executive Officer GBCC
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Senior Vice President GBCC
President - GBCC
AMARDEEP GILL Partner - Trowers and Hamlins
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SUZY VERMA
HELEN BATES
CHARLIE BLAKEMORE
Director Sustainability Partnerships - HSBC
Chief Financial Officer GBCC
Group Managing Director InterCity Technology
MIKE OWENS Managing DirectorSchumacher Packaging
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D I V E R SI TY The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce remains committed to diversity and inclusion, and continues to build upon its comprehensive action plan produced following the completion of a RACE Equality Code assessment with the Governance Forum in 2021. At present, the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s Board is: 58% female (region 50.5%); 42% male (region 49.5%); 25% Asian/Asian British (region 19%); 8% Black/African/Caribbean/Black British (region 6%); and 67% White or White British (region 70%). Regional statistics were obtained from the Office for National Statistics Annual Population Survey 2020.
ARMED FORCES COVENANT The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce is proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. In 2021, the Chamber was delighted to be awarded a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award for our support and advocacy for the defence and armed forces community.
RACE CODE QUALITY MARK The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce is delighted to announce that it has achieved the Race Code Quality Mark Accreditation, marking a significant milestone in our journey to enhance the quality of our governance practices. This prestigious accreditation, awarded in 2023, underscores our unwavering dedication to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organisation. Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) remains resolute, and this recognition serves as a testament to our ongoing endeavours to build a more inclusive and equitable future. We are proud to continue our work in fostering a diverse and welcoming environment for all.
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